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Hollweg Suspension Not Long Enough
by Paul on 10/15/08 at 11:08 AM ET
Comments (3)
from Ken Campbell of the Hockey News,
If there’s anyone out there who can explain the NHL’s rationale when it comes to meting out discipline, please contact The Hockey News as soon as possible.
Let’s take the Ryan Hollweg suspension, just for fun. Hollweg drills Alex Pietrangelo of the St. Louis Blues into the boards from behind during a game Monday afternoon. It earns him an automatic three-game suspension, his second automatic suspension in a matter of weeks. The league has the latitude and discretion to add as many games as it sees fit, but opts to let a habitual and egregious offender go without any further discipline.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Toronto Maple Leafs | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Ryan+Hollweg,
Comments
I can’t help but wonder if the decision not to increase his punishment is a double-sided concern for image. On one hand, having a player take virtually back-to-back suspensions to start the season is awkward enough for a League that has no desire to be further viewed as a gathering of thugs; to punish him further this early only makes the situation get more highlight, and should the NHLPA defend Holloweg as they do all wronged players, no matter the circumstance it seems (see Emery’s fine/charitable donation last season), it only further entrenches that notion.
On the other side, you have Fletcher who traded away a pick that has inherent value to a rebuilding franchise to get Ryan, and who labeled the call on Holloweg marginal. To go further could make Fletcher, and possibly by association the Leafs themselves, feel like a kid being told they answered the question completely wrong, potentially creating another League vs. team’s management dislike (see New York Rangers and their dislike of the League’s control over certain things, notably websites), or even making Leafs players feel singled out in the League, picked on even. Not to mention the obvious fact that it would likely only highlight Fletchers marginalization of the call, when the League has already had more than enough of those who would question its officiating.
Just a thought. Who knows, maybe it’s just like how some speculated yesterday that the League was following the NFL’s lead with their graphics, only now they could be following baseball: three strikes and you’re out.
Posted by SENShobo from Waterloo, ON on 10/15/08 at 12:32 PM ET
I still disagree with the call. I think Pietrangelo saw Hollweg coming and turned his back to him, in order to draw the penalty, and by the time Hollweg saw this, it was too late.
And believe me, I really have no reason to defend Hollweg, I hate the man, he’s an idiot, and he shouldn’t be allowed to play in the league in the first place, but I think he got a raw deal here.
Posted by Kevin from Pittsburgh on 10/15/08 at 05:51 PM ET
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I’m kind of stunned, myself. I mean, if a man can take a stick to the head and not get the hint, you have to wonder what will send a message. I’d have thought something in the 5-8 range would be more appropriate, all things considered.
Posted by Doogie2K from Calgary on 10/15/08 at 12:32 PM ET